COVERING UP

We might not judge a book by its cover, but we all jump to certain conclusions when we see one. Book covers work hard. Not only must they convey the title and author, but also whether our book is fiction or non-fiction, its genre, and if it’s part of an existing series. All this within the blink of an eye.

With self-publishing, getting our books written is only part of the process. Sorting the cover is another challenge. And let’s be honest. Most of us are writers, not graphic designers. The two are completely distinct skill sets. When it comes to the business of writing, should we create our own covers or should we commission a specialist?

Budget buy

The temptation to do it ourselves often revolves around cost. DIY covers are cheaper but, without the design skills, the result may not be what we imagined. However, we all have to start somewhere, and the benefit of self-publishing is